Odisha HC issues interim stay on transfer of Swargadwara land

In an interim order, the Orissa High Court today ordered for a stay over transfer of Swargadwara lands apart from serving notices to all parties concerned.

A division bench of the High Court comprising of Chief Justice Dillip Saran and Justice K R Mohapatra issued the interim stay while conducting a preliminary hearing on a petition filed by one Abhisek Das in connection with the dispute concerning Swargadwara land.

The bench served notices to the state government and Puri Municipality to file their replies on the matter within two weeks.

“The court after conducting a hearing, directed for making Shankaracharya a party in the case since that land was originally held by him. Under the court’s direction, he was made a party in the case. The court ordered for serving notices to Puri-Konark Development Authority (PKDA), Executive Officer Puri Municipality and Hindu Religious Endowments Commissioner. The matter will come up for hearing after two weeks when they will file their counters. For that reason the bench has ordered forbidding any transfer of Swargadwara land,” informed Dr. Ashok Mohapatra, petitioner’s counsel speaking to newsmen.

Shankaracharya of Govardhan Peeth in Puri had sought the court’s permission to be admitted as a party in the case. The court while making Shankaracharya a party in the case has served a notice to him.

“Though Shankaracharya had the knowledge of it, he was helpless. He failed to take any legal action against the encroachers. After we apprised the court in this respect, it felt that we should be made a party. We have been made a party in the case. The High Court too issued an interim order that the land cannot be transferred,” stated Ashok Mohapatra, counsel Govardhan Peeth after the court’s interim order.